NY man admits trying to kill wife with stair push

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- A 43-year-old western New York man admits he tried to kill his wife by pushing her down stairs and then trying to break her neck with his hands while she lay injured.

Peter Sudlik of Henrietta pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon in Monroe County Court to attempted murder and assault. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that the judge agreed to accept the guilty plea and sentence Sudlik to 10 years in prison and four years post-release supervision in part to spare Sudlik's wife from testifying at trial.

Sudlik's wife suffered serious injuries in the December 2011 incident but didn't report it to police. Family members contacted Monroe County sheriff's deputies six months later when Sudlik sent relatives a detailed e-mail describing what had happened.